Safety Rules & Tips

Tornado Safety Rules

In a home or building move to a predesignated shelter, such as a basement.

If an underground shelter is not available move to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor, and get under a sturdy piece of furniture. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.

Stay away from windows.

Get out of auto mobiles.

Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car, instead leave it immediately for a safe shelter.

If caught outside or in a vehicle, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands.

Be aware of flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes cause most fatalities and injuries.

Mobile homes, even tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes. You should leave a mobile home and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy nearby building or a storm shelter.

Flash Flood Safety Rules

Avoid walking, swimming or diving in flood waters.

Stay away from high water, storm drains, ditches, ravines, or culverts. If it is moving swiftly, even water 6 inches deep can knock you off your feet.

If you come upon flood waters, stop, turn around, and go another way. Climb to higher ground.

Do not let children play near storm drains.

Lightning Safety Rules

Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are imminent. This is your best way to avoid being caught in a dangerous situation.

Move to a sturdy building or car. Do not take shelter in small sheds, under isolated trees, or in convertible automobiles. Stay away from tall objects such as towers, fences, telephone poles, and power lines.

If lighting is occurring and a sturdy shelter is not available, get inside a hard top automobile and keep the windows up. Avoid touching any metal.

Utility lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity. Unplug appliances not necessary for obtaining weather information. Avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances. Use phones only in an emergency.

Do not take a bath or shower during a thunderstorm.

Turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightening can cause serious damage.

30/30 Lightening Safety Rule: go indoors if, after seeing lightening, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.

Winter Storm Preparedness & Safety
If a Winter Storm Watch has been issued for your area, that means that hazardous winter weather conditions (such as snow greater than 6 inches in 24 hours, winds gusting over 35 mph, or visibilities less ¼ mile) are expected in the next 12 to 36 hours. You should prepare for
the worst now:

At Home or Work
Make sure you have:

A working flashlight

Battery powered NOAA weather radio, radio, or TV

Extra food, water, medicine, and baby items

First aid supplies

Heating fuel:

Propane

Kerosene

Fuel oil

Emergency heating source

Fire extinguisher and smoke detector

In Cars & Trucks

Fully check and winterize your vehicle

Keep your gas tank near full

Carry a Winter Storm Survival Kit which contains:

Blankets/sleeping bags

Flashlight with extra batteries

Knife

High calorie, non-perishable food

A smaller can and water-proof matches to melt snow for drinking water

Sand or cat litter

Shovel

Windshield scraper

Tool kit

Tow rope

Jumper cables

Water container

Road maps

If a Winter Storm Warning has been issued for your area, that means that hazardous winter weather conditions (such as snow greater than 6 inches in 24 hours, winds gusting over 35 mph, or visibilities less ¼ mile) are expected within the next 12 hours or are already occurring.

If Caught Outside

Find a dry shelter. Cover all exposed parts of the body.

If shelter is not available:

Prepare a lean-to, wind break, or snow-cave for protection from the wind.

Build a fire for heat and to attract attention. Place rocks around the fire to absorb and reflect heat.

Do not eat snow. It will lower your body temperature. Melt it first.

If Stranded in a Car or Truck

Stay in your car or truck!

Run the motor about ten minutes each hour. Open the windows a little fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked.

Storm Sirens
The City of Ardmore maintains and operates a network of outdoor warning sirens designed to warn the public of severe weather. These sirens are mounted to utility poles throughout the city, and are designed to provide warning for those persons outdoors, away from other types of warning devices such as television and radio. This warning system has never been intended for a warning to residents inside buildings, simply because they are not loud enough to penetrate buildings or to awaken individuals who are sleeping.

Activation of Sirens
The Emergency Warning Sirens will be activated under the following circumstances upon approval of the civil defense manager or her designees.

Weather- Whenever a tornado warning has been issued and a tornado strike is likely within a radius of approximately 15 miles of the City of Ardmore, and upon approval of the Civil Defense Manager for the City of Ardmore or her designees

Civil Emergency- Upon notification by the Civil Defense Manager for the City of Ardmore

National Emergency- Upon notification by the Civil Defense Manager for the City of Ardmore or the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA)

NOAA Weather Radio
NOAA Weather Radio is a service provided by the National Weather Service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Routine programming includes the latest weather conditions, weather summaries for the vicinity and surrounding areas, and short term forecasts of significant weather expected within the next 1-3 hours. But one of the most important reasons to own a weather radio is the ability to receive up-to-the-minute information on severe weather, such as:

Severe thunderstorms

Large hail

Strong and damaging winds

Tornadoes

Flash floods

Many weather radio receivers are equipped with a tone alert which will be activated the moment severe weather threatens our immediate area. Weather radios are probably the best means of emergency warning for inside your home, and can be purchased anywhere from $20 to $50 at Wal-Mart, Radio Shack, or any electronic store.